Receptacle for coins and the like



May 20, 1952 R. A. coLLlToN 2,597,227

' RECEPTACLE FOR COINS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 IFISI. FIGZ.

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im 'A Patented May 20, 1952 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,597,227 REcErrAcLaFoR ooms ANT) THE LIKE Roy A. Colliton, Clayton, Mo. Y y

.Application January 24, 1949,Y Serial No. 72,469

rThis invention relates to receptacles, and more particularly to a storage and display receptacle for numismatic items. f

Among the several objectsof the invention may be noted the provision of a display receptacle for coins, medals, medallions and the like suitable for variously sized and shaped items o'f this class; 'the provision of a receptacle for items of the class described permitting complete visual inspection of all surfaces of an item contained therein; the' pro# vision of a receptacle 'of this class for protecting such items from common types of` injury such as scratches and tarnishing; the provision of a receptacle of this class requiring a minimum of storage space while permitting quick and easy assortment of selected items for display purposes; and, the provision of an inexpensive receptacle such as described which may be easilyV loaded. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises rthe elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures ,hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.A

In the accompanying drawing, in which one of various possible embodiments of the' invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a receptacle of this" invention; p f f Fig. 2 is an end View of the receptacle with parts in position for the reception of a coin, the thickness being exaggerated;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a loaded and closed re"- ceptacle; and Y Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 vof Fig. 3, with thicknesses exaggerated.

Similar reference characters indicateA corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

In the field of numismatics, the provision of satisfactory storage and display means has presented certain difliculties. The problem is generally one of providing protection for the specimens, in particular anti-tarnish protection, while permitting complete inspection of the specimen. A coin in mint or uncirculated condition is more valuable to a collector than one whichr vhas an appearance of having been in circulation.- Also, it is desirable that the edgesof-a-coin, as well as both faces, be visible, since certain issues have designs, printing and the like formed on: their edges. Other factors to be considered inthe-solution of this problem would include the'ease-of handling; the amount of storage space required, it being desirable to hold this factor to a minimum; and, means for readily identifying the various items without resort to inspection of the item.

Referring toFgs. 1 and 2, the receptacle of this invention generally comprises a at open frame I having a pair of transparent panels 3 and 5 held face to face `so that a coin or the like may be lodged therebetween for visual inspection. The frame is formed of relatively rigid sheet material having a surface adapted for the inscription of pertinent information thereon. Also, the frame is preferably of a thickness somewhat greater than the average thickness Yof numismatic iteiis, such as coins. Cardboard has been found to be a suitable material While having the further advantage of being inexpensive. The transparent panels 3 and 5, are formed of generally flexible transparent sheet material of such chemical'nature that there is no reaction with metal contacting same. Cellulose acetate is vsuch a material.

More speciiically, theA frame comprises Aa pair of flat, centrally apertured frame members 1 and 9 of similarshape'stamped from relatively thick cardboard sheet material. The frame members have a rectangular outline for easy handling and filing. Also, they are formed with an opening of such size and shape as to accommodate the various items of the class for which the receptacle is designed. In the illustrated embodiment,V the frame members are formed with a square opening and thus have top and bottom legs I I and I3 integrally joined by side legs I5. Relatively tightly stretched across frame member 1 is a`v transparent panel 3 of relatively thin, Vtransparent sheet material, such as cellulose acetate. A similar transparent panel 5` is stretched across the other member 9. The panels are adhesively secured throughout their marginal areas to the adjoining frame members, each panel extending approximately to the outer edges of themembers. Panel 3 is in'face to face contact with panel 5, thecoextensive attached frame members facing outwardly. The whole `is held together by staple fasteners-I1 punched into the frame bottom I3 andV -side legsfl and lying flush with their outer faces. The top portions of members 'I and 9 Yare temporarily left unfastened to provide an inlet YI 9 for the insertion of a coin.l y

l The receptacle is provided with means Vfor readilyseparating the transparent panelsuto facilitate-the loading operation. Adjoining sheets of certaintransparent material, such as cellulose acetate, commonly have an afnity for Yone another which renders their separation diflicult. Accordingly, indented score lines 2| are formed across the side legs I5 of frame member 1 above fasteners l1, permitting the upper portion of member 1 to be readily folded away from member S along lines 2| (Fig. 2).

A coin or the like is inserted through the inlet l 9 between transparent panels 3 and 5. The relatively tightly stretched panels yield sufliciently to permit entrance of the coin while tending to grip same and prevent undesired movements thereof. By intentionally jarring the receptacle, the coin may be moved therein; however, ordi-v nary movements of the frame will not cause the coin to slide about. Thus, the coin may be centrally positioned as at C and held in this positionr under normal handling conditions. Leg Il of frame member 'l is folded back vagainst frame member 9 and is secured thereto, as by a transparent adhesive tape 23, folded across the top edges. v

Information pertaining to the coin may be inscribed on the outer face of the frame as by pen so that the item C may be readily identified without a close scrutiny for mint marks, etc. The outer faces of the cardboard frame may be calendered-to provide a glossy surface for this purpose, if desired. The inscription is preferably made along the top portions of the frame prior to fastening same so that the subsequently applied closure tape 23 will cover it and protect it from subsequent injury. Adhesive tape has the additional advantage of being readily removable, thereby permitting the receptacle to be re-used. A given receptacle is adapted to receive .a variety of coins of different shapes and sizes, being limited only bythesize and shape of the frame openingthrough which the coin is viewed.

A coin's thus completely enclosed in the receptacle safe from such harmful conditions as attack by gases in the atmosphere or by moisture from the hands of a person examining the coin. The frame, per se, need not be non-re-active to metal since it is shielded from the coin by the transparent protective panels. that all surfaces of the coin, including its edges, are readily visible. Also, the relatively thick frame members tend to guard the outer faces of the transparent panels from scratching and permit symmetrical Vstacking of individual receptacles for storage without interference from the outward bulge 25 of panels 3 and 5 caused by coin C (Fig. 4) Y In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.- f As many changes could be made in the above constructions withoutu departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the .above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A display receptacle for coins, medals, medallions and the like comprising two centrally apertured, coextensive frame members of rela-V tively .rigid sheet material, two panels of flexible transparent sheet material .stretched across the frame members between said members, said panels being adhesively secured throughout their margins to the respective frame members, and fastening means holding vthe members in assembled relation, -a portion `of one member and its attached panel portion being separable from the other member and its attached panel portion for v:

It will be noted v the insertion of a numismatic item between the panels.

2. Adisplay receptacle for coins, medals, medallions and the like comprising two generally rectangular, centrally apertured, coextensive frame members of cardboard, two panels of flexible transparent sheet material stretched across the frame members between said members and being adhesively secured throughout their margins to theirespective frame members, and fasteners at three sides of the rectangular members holding the members in assembled relation, the fourth side of one frame member and its attached panel portion being foldable away from the other frame member and its attached panel portion for the insertion of a niunismatic item therebetween, the transparent panels being adapted to grip and hold the edge of-a coin and the like and hold it spaced ,fromv the frame members.

3. A ydisplay receptacle for coins, medals, medallions and the like comprising two generally rectangular, centrally apertured, coextensive frame members of cardboard, two panels of flexible transparent sheet material stretched across the respective frame members between said members and being adhesively secured throughout their margins to the respective frame members, fasteners at three sides of the rectangular members holding the members in coextensive assembled relation, the fourth side of one frame member and its attached panel portion being foldable away from the other` frame member and its attached panel portion for ,the insertion'of a numismatic item therebetween, one of the frame members having indented score lines formed parallel to and adjacenuthe unfastened side thereof to facilitate folding, the transparent panels being adapted to grip and hold the edge of a coin and the like and hold it spaced from the frame members.

4. A display receptacle for a coin of predetermined diameter and thickness comprising at least two generally rectangular, centrally apertured coextensive frame members of cardboard, the apertures in the frame members having minimum dimensions greater than the diameter of the coin, two panels of flexible transparent sheet material stretched across the inner surfaces of the respective frame membersand adhesively secured thereto throughout their margins, staple fasteners at three Asides of the rectangular frame members holding the frame members in coextensive assembled relation, the fourth side of one frame member and its attached panel portion being foldable away from the opposite portion of the other frame member for insertion of 'said coin therebetween, the foldable frame member having score lines formed therein to facilitate folding, and the transparent panels being adapted to grip the edge of a co'in'and hold it spaced from the frame members.

ROY A. COLLI'ION.

VREFERENCES CITED The followingv references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITEDv STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,359,750 Schrankl Nov. 23, 1920 2,050,270 `Burnham Aug. 11, 1936 2,156,081 Cavalero ---s Apr. 25, v1939 2,169,290 Rossi 'Aug 15, 1939 2,184,007 Staehle Dec. 19, 1939 2,258,535 Buranelli Oct. 7, 1941 fla-l 

